Rivian Rearview Camera Recall (FSAM-1866): R1S, R1T and R2 Owners' California Lemon Law Rights

Recall 26V597000 (Rivian reference FSAM-1866) covers 98,828 Rivian vehicles — R1S SUVs from model years 2022 through 2027, R1T trucks from 2022 through 2026, and 2027 R2 SUVs — whose rearview camera image may be obstructed by a software notification when the vehicle is in reverse. NHTSA cites Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111 (rear visibility) and records the consequence as reduced rear visibility and increased crash risk.

What the recall covers

Rivian filed recall 26V597000 with NHTSA on September 16, 2026, covering 98,828 vehicles: the R1S from model years 2022 to 2027, the R1T from 2022 to 2026, and the 2027 R2. It is separate from two earlier 2026 Rivian campaigns — R1S seat belt retractor bolts (26V009000) and R1S turn signals (26V508000).

What actually goes wrong

A software notification may appear over the rearview camera image when the vehicle is placed in reverse. A camera image that is partly or fully covered defeats the point of a mandatory rear-visibility system. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111 requires the camera view to be displayed when reversing, and NHTSA's record treats the blocked image as a noncompliance. Rivians are tall, wide vehicles with limited rear sightlines, which makes the camera more important, not less.

What the fix is

The remedy is a free over-the-air software update. There is no part to replace and, for most owners, no appointment. That is convenient, but it carries a paperwork problem: an update that downloads silently leaves no repair order. Keep a record of the software version, the date it installed, and any notification you saw before it.

Does this make a Rivian a lemon?

A rearview camera notification fixed by a software update is not, standing alone, a lemon law case. Rivian owners are more likely to have a claim when the camera or screen faults persist after the update, when the vehicle has repeated visits for the same software or electrical problem, or when the vehicle has been out of service for warranty work for 30 or more cumulative days. Software and electrical complaints are common on first-generation EVs, so patterns sometimes exist before the recall.

How a California buyback works

Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, a vehicle may qualify as a lemon if it has a warranty-covered defect that substantially impairs its use, value or safety and Rivian Automotive, LLC or its authorized dealers cannot repair it after a reasonable number of attempts — or if it has been out of service for warranty repairs for more than 30 cumulative days. A defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury if the vehicle is driven is held to a shorter standard: at least two repair attempts rather than four. If a claim succeeds, the manufacturer pays your attorney fees, so a consultation costs nothing out of pocket. Time limits apply and they depend on the vehicle and the manufacturer, so it is worth asking early rather than late.

Beyond the recall: Is my Rivian a lemon?

Rivian owners commonly report infotainment freezes, phantom warnings, charging errors, air-suspension faults, and drive-unit problems. Repeated visits for the same issue, long waits for parts, and days without the vehicle are the building blocks of a claim. Track every service appointment, including mobile service visits and the number of days the vehicle was unavailable.

What to do next

Check your VIN, complete the free repair, and keep every document. If the problem comes back, or your Rivian has other defects that keep returning to the shop, Mousavi Law Firm can review it at no cost — call 844-MOUSAVI.